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Brock, Bondurant headline Monterey picnic

August 7, 2012

Bob Bondurant ponders his move into turn one as Dan Gurney casts a knowing eye on his rival. Photo by Allen R. Kuhn

Two racing legends, Peter Brock and Bob Bondurant will swap stories and talk Shelby with fans and each other on Aug. 18 at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. The 30-minute “eat and greet” begins at 12:15 p.m. at the Ford Motor Co. display at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca's Yamaha Marketplace.

Brock is known to fans for a plethora of reasons, not the least of which is his involvement in designing Chevrolet's C2 Corvette. He also helped the late Carroll Shelby turn the Shelby Cobra into the Cobra Daytona coupe. Others know him from his work on Datsun's BRE racers, which he took to championships against Alfas and Porsches.

Bondurant drove for Shelby in the 1960s in both North America and Europe. He and Dan Gurney won the GT class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in a Shelby Cobra. Bondurant won seven of 10 races in the FIA World Championship, securing a title for Ford Shelby and the United States in 1965. We can't think of anyone more qualified to run a series of high-performance racing schools.

“The picnic series is a way for some of the legends of motorsports to share their lively stories with our guests attending the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion,” said Gill Campbell, CEO and general manager of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. “There will be no shortage of stories with Pete and Bob.”

Murray Smith will moderate the event for the third year running. He says he takes pleasure in asking pointed questions.

Advanced general admission tickets to the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion cost $50 while weekend passes cost $130. Hospitality options begin at $200 per person. Go to www.mazdaraceway.com for more info or to purchase tickets.